Lisa Lisa (リサリサ, Risa Risa) is a primary ally featured in the second part of the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure series, Battle Tendency, but introduced as a tertiary character in the first part, Phantom Blood.
Lisa Lisa is a Ripple master and mentor to Caesar Zeppeli and Joseph Joestar, residing in Venice but whose past is initially unknown. She leads the Ripple Users' efforts in battling the Pillar Men.
She is also a primary ally in the light novel JORGE JOESTAR and the main protagonist of El Aleph.
Appearance
Lisa Lisa is a tall and fit woman with fair skin. Beautiful and poised, she has light eyes, medium eyebrows, and long, dark hair which is swept back. Lisa Lisa's real age is 50, but her Ripple training has allowed her to appear as though she were still in her late 20s.
She dons a variety of outfits during the journey, but she almost always wears her long Ripple-conducting scarf and a pair of aviator glasses while outside of home. She occasionally wears earrings, which are either studs, hoops, or dangle earrings.
During her battle against Kars, Lisa Lisa wears a short halterneck dress with circular buckles on each side. The dress is on top of a strapless top with a shoulder band. She pairs this with tight, dark leggings, high-heeled shoes, and long gloves. In the anime, her top has puffy shoulders, and her dress has a tight fit around the waist.
JORGE JOESTAR
Lisa Lisa mostly wears the same kind of dress throughout the novel as she grows up. As a child up to when she is a teenager, her dress has a high collar and puffed sleeves. There is a row of buttons going down the center and the bottom of her dress is ruffled. She also wears a necklace with round beads connected to a large bow tie on her chest. When she is 16, she wears her scarf on top of the same dress, covering her bow tie. When she is thirty, she wears a plain dress with puffed shoulders along with her scarf, without the bow tie necklace.
In Hirohiko Araki's artwork of her, her scarf is tightly wrapped around her neck, tied with a knot at the front. She wears a sleeveless dress with a pocket on each side. Several flowers decorate the straps, her waist, and her pockets.
El Aleph
Lisa Lisa's age changes slightly throughout the story, with her being 84 during the Guatemala Arc as it takes place in April 1973, and around 85 in the Peru Arc as it is set in 1974. In the Final Arc, she is around 97 years old as it takes place in 1986. In the epilogue, she would be around 98-99 depending on when it takes place, as it occurs just before Part 3.
In 1973, Lisa Lisa has long silver hair and continues wearing her scarf and high heels. At some point, she stopped concerning herself with upkeeping her appearance with the Ripple's anti-aging effects. However, she still aged naturally and beautifully according to J.D. Hernández.[6] She occasionally wears a black suit as part of the Speedwagon Foundation.[7]
In 1986, Lisa Lisa's hair is all white and thinned to the point of her scalp showing. She is a lot skinnier, suffers from knee and hip pain while walking, and has more wrinkles.[8] Multiple people point out how old she looks and are surprised to still see her alive.[8][9][10]
In the epilogue, Suzi Q states that Lisa Lisa looks very burnt-out and is surprised that she stopped going to the beauty salon. She tells Joseph that Lisa Lisa has gotten even more skinnier like when a chicken gets its feathers plucked, her cheekbones are prominent, and her white hair is now tangled and unkempt.[4]
Color Schemes
Personality
Battle Tendency
Lisa Lisa is a cool-headed, dignified Ripple master living in Air Supplena Island. After dedicating decades to mastering the Ripple and imparting its techniques to others, she leads the pursuit against the Pillar Men as a formidable leader. She strongly believes in fate, confident that she is destined to protect the Red Stone of Aja,[11] and feeling it was inevitable that her foster father ended up being defeated by her son.[1] As the most skilled Ripple user of her time, and the last master remaining in the world, she is prideful of her skills,[12] and Wamuu sings her praises for being composed and perceptive.[13] She can be cunning as she threatens to destroy the Aja with a timed bomb if Kars doesn't accept her offer to battle one-on-one, with Joseph even admitting that she is a better gambler than he could ever hope to be. Despite catching onto her bluff, Kars also commends her bravery.[13]
Lisa Lisa is an aloof, stoic woman, coming across as apathetic to her comrades.[1] She possesses little patience for antics[14] and doesn't offer her students any sympathy for the grueling, life-threatening training she puts them through.[15] As soon as they reach Air Supplena Island, she immediately pushes Joseph and Caesar down the Hell Climb Pillar before they even get to rest at the house.[16] Joseph notes that her eyes are as cold as if she's looking down at a pig about to be butchered.[14]
However, she is not truly cruel, as her cold demeanor stems from a desire to keep her allies focused so they could be prepared to handle the otherworldly threats they're destined to face.[1][17] She doesn't mind Caesar saving Joseph from falling when he was almost at the top of the pillar, faintly smiling when he asks for permission.[18] She also doesn't care when Joseph frequently insults her, simply ignoring him or being clueless about his lecherous remarks.[11][16][19]
Hidden within her persona lies a tragic history that she refuses to discuss, having lost her parents as a baby, then later her husband, ally, and foster father. While she maintains a distance from most after being forced to live in exile, her affection for her servant Suzi Q is evident,[20] and she is glad to find Messina still alive after fighting Wamuu.[17] She also mourns for Straizo, despite hearing about his change in character.[21] She intends to keep her true identity as Joseph's mother a secret from him until the time is right.[1][22] Following the demise of her student, Lisa Lisa struggles to hide how she feels and attempts to continue projecting a hardened exterior, urging Joseph to concentrate on the impending battle. However, when Joseph calls out her faltering facade as her cigarette was upside down, her suppressed grief surfaces, leading her to collapse and cry.[17] After the defeat of Kars, Lisa Lisa no longer has to hide her emotions, as she sheds tears upon seeing that Joseph is still alive and soon reveals her relationship to him. She also manages to find love again in America and gets remarried.[3]
Lisa Lisa smokes sometimes, as she carries a case of cigarettes and a lighter in Switzerland.[23] She enjoys wearing fashionable dresses and taking baths. According to Suzi Q, her favorite food is carrots.[1]
Novels
JORGE JOESTAR
The light novel JORGE JOESTAR details the life of Lisa Lisa from childhood until she is 31 years old. Lisa Lisa is a fiercely protective and strong-willed individual, often taking matters into her own hands when she sees injustice. As a child, she frequently defends George from his bullies, resorting to violence to teach them a lesson. After defending George, she would express her frustration with him for showing weakness, out of concern that he was making himself a target. At times, she would distance herself from George, hoping that would make him more independent.[24] Even after growing up, Lisa Lisa would continue worrying about George, wondering if he is still being bullied in high school.[25][26]
She displays an unwavering bravery and determination, especially when faced with formidable adversaries such as the vampire Alejandro Torres. She shows no squeamishness, casually wearing a corpse's skin over her body in an attempt to lure out Alejandro. Although George believes she is terrified while facing Alejandro, she is unafraid to speak her mind, taunting the man for being a terrible father. She is committed to saving those she cares about, declaring herself as George's guardian and fighting to protect the Joestar bloodline using her Ripple abilities.[24] She is proud to protect mankind, and is motivated that her actions fighting supernatural evils will help George live a normal life.[26] She can be intimidating, as she instantly shuts up George's entire class when they complain about her giving them orders, which she was only doing to keep them safe.[24] During the war, she fearlessly jumps across planes, using her acrobatic skills and Ripple techniques to obliterate zombies in the sky. George likens her to a war god upon witnessing her courageous feats.[27]
Despite her outward toughness, Lisa Lisa has a very soft and vulnerable side, especially when faced with personal challenges. She is deeply attached to Erina and George, seeing Erina as her mother. For instance, when she has to leave Erina and George to stay with her adoptive father, Straizo, her distress causes her to break down and cry openly. Her reaction surprises George, who had always viewed her as the more mature and composed one between the two of them. She often reflects on her place within the Joestar family. While she once yearned to be a part of their lineage, her growing understanding of love and relationships makes her realize that her bond with George is special in its own right, since she would rather marry him than be his sister.[24] When separated from Straizo and the other warriors in an underground temple in Rome, Lisa Lisa's fear of being alone in the absolute darkness summons a supernatural creature that reacts based on her emotional state, which only ends up disappearing once George suddenly appears and assuages her fears.[26] She acts playfully and humorously with George, often laughing at his jokes and being the first one to kiss him, laughing very hard when she accidentally shocks him by using Ripple energy on the kiss.[26] As an adult, she is the first one to propose to George, casually mentioning it while they are in the middle of fighting zombies in war. However, she distances herself from him upon hearing a prophecy from Tonpetty that George would die shortly after their marriage. When George worries about her not caring about him anymore, she firmly reassures him of her unwavering love for him, expressing that her love is an intrinsic part of her identity.[27]
In addition, Lisa Lisa is strongly perceptive with a sharp memory. She is capable of remembering the traumatic events she witnessed as a baby, such as vaguely recalling her time with Erina and the evilness she felt from Dio Brando while they were sailing together on a coffin.[28] Her quick thinking manages to lead her team to victory during the war, when she uses her Ripple on Steven Motorize's back to pull out his wings without him feeling any pain, allowing Steven to fly and later save George when he is forced to jump out of his plane.[27]
El Aleph
In the light novel El Aleph, Lisa Lisa's experiences over the years have further honed her composed demeanor. She is portrayed as a mature woman who carries herself with poise and authority, making her highly respected by other investigators in the Speedwagon Foundation.[6][29] As the head of the Foundation's Paranormal Phenomena Section, she doesn't merely delegate but actively works in the field alongside her team, valuing their insights and acknowledging their accomplishments.[6][7][29] Even in her mid-eighties, she remains an active and direct participant in combat situations, showcasing her dedication to her duties and responsibilities.[6][7] She is closely involved with the Foundation's research in archaeology and ancient civilization, well-learned enough to outshine an expert in the subject.[7] Her gentle reprimand of J.D. Hernández speaks to her leadership approach, as she is assertive yet subtle.[6] When she enters a room or gives a speech, all eyes are immediately drawn to her, highlighting her magnetic presence.[29]
Throughout her travels and missions, Lisa Lisa maintains an observant and contemplative nature, from appreciating the beauty of a market scene to keenly taking note of local customs and practices. She gracefully navigates foreign locales, cherishing genuine interactions with locals. She kindly smiles at local women who aren't pushy with their sales, and her expression doesn't sour even when bumped into. She holds in high regard the perspectives and input of locals, considering their viewpoints even when they diverge from the Speedwagon Foundation's initial judgments.[30] She often showcases her analytical and investigative prowess, theorizing about how the Arrows and Stands work. When J.D. suggests to retreat against Hopscotch, Lisa Lisa declares there's no need to, as the battle would provide them with essential data.[7] Moreover, Lisa Lisa is shown to be judicious and patient, not merely relying on superficial assessments when evaluating potential threats. She refrains from passing judgment on Fabio Ubuh prematurely and instead focuses on acquiring concrete evidence.[30] She also sees beyond Fernando Alhorn's facade and judges his true nature as a hellish entity.[29]
Lisa Lisa's interactions with Octavio and Joaquín demonstrates her stoic and commanding presence. She is not easily swayed by remarks about her age or appearance and remains dignified in her responses, similarly to how she ignored Joseph's comments in the past. Even though she's presented with compelling arguments from Octavio and Joaquín about their unique abilities and their desire to break free from their suffocating lives, Lisa Lisa remains steadfast in her stance on the Foundation's policies on not recruiting local hires. However, she is not entirely rigid and is open to exceptions if they can prove their worth, displaying her compassionate side as she is open to giving opportunities where they are due.[7][30]
Her philosophy on life and the world is rooted in her experiences, as she used to carry out philanthropic and humanitarian work with her late husband while living as an ordinary wife with him.[31] She desires to notice details that others may overlook, such as how she tried to observe the darkness within the flickering of fluorescent lights ever since she was young, since it is ordinarily imperceptible for the human eye. She often asks thought-provoking questions to gauge the character of her interlocutors, aiming to unravel their psyche.[7] Lisa Lisa recognizes the cyclical nature of history, where humanity often repeats its mistakes, leading to wars and human rights issues. Yet, she also believes in the power of the younger generation to bring about positive change, showing a mix of realism and optimism. Thus, she decides to actively contribute to the Foundation as long as she's needed and pass on her legacy when the time comes.[31] After becoming a widow again, this leads her to rejoin the frontlines and train Sasha Loggins and Gustave Shaulo Messina as her successors in the Ripple.[29]
She feels that she has gotten more sentimental in her old age, feeling a deep responsibility for the well-being of her students and allies. This maternal instinct is further depicted in her relationship with Sasha, her most trusted bodyguard, upon seeing Sasha in danger against Dos Santos. She reflects on the value of life and the tragedies of premature death, never wanting to see someone younger than her die again, and hopes not to regret making Sasha her pupil.[32] In addition, she takes full responsibility for Octavio and Joaquín's suffering after they are shot by Alhorn's Arrow.[31]
Lisa Lisa is also a resourceful woman, using her skills with the Ripple in innovative ways outside of combat or training. She incorporates it seamlessly into everyday tasks with finesse, such as cooking an egg to perfection with just a tap.[29]
Abilities
Joseph describes Lisa Lisa's movements as smooth as silk, making his look amateur by comparison.[33] She is capable of detecting even the slightest of breaths, which surprises Wamuu, as she recognizes that there is a large number of vampires in the room with them trying to hide their presence.[13] Her body is abnormally flexible, allowing her to be extremely agile and pull off acrobatic feats.[1]
Ripple
Lisa Lisa is a Ripple master, trained by Tonpetty's successor, Straizo. Illustrating her talent and skill, she first appears standing on an oar on a surface of water, turning it into a high bar on charged pillars of water. Her Ripple is at least three times more powerful than Joseph's.[1] Her ability for training others results in Caesar and Joseph's rapid growth into Ripple masters in their own rights.
Lisa Lisa's expertise with the Ripple and flexibility hasn't waned in her mid-eighties, demonstrating control and precision even in high-stress situations. For instance, she utilizes her Snake Muffler technique to bounce out of an abyss unscathed, standing upright with only her muffler's tip touching the ground.[7]
Techniques
Constant exercising of the Ripple can slow one's aging process, as Ripple breathing imbues the user with life force. However, aging isn't completely stopped. As such, Joseph thinks that Lisa Lisa appears to be in her late twenties despite being fifty years old.
A Ripple user is able to use the Ripple as a repellent and to adhere either themselves or objects to other objects and liquids. As per Lisa Lisa's training, Joseph and Caesar manage to climb a pillar covered in oil with adhesion, and Caesar uses it to deflect a high pressured oil jet.
Lisa Lisa can hypnotize people and animals by using the Ripple on them. The process involves touching one's head with her hands. She can extract forgotten memories using this technique, which she uses on Suzi Q to determine the location of the Red Stone of Aja.
A Ripple Master can use cloth woven from the dried intestinal fibers of the Satiporoja Beetle. The cloth is capable of conducting the Ripple at 100%. Straizo and Lisa Lisa use scarves that are made of 30,000 beetles. As it conducts and disperses the Ripple far better than the human body, it acts similarly to a lightning rod and can completely absorb an opponent's Ripple attack.
Lisa Lisa's primary method of fighting involves a scarf made with the yarn of the Satiporoja Beetle, which can conduct the Ripple at 100%. She can channel her Ripple through her scarf to stand upside down, leaving the now rigid scarf the only part of her in contact with the ground. She may also use the sensitivity of the scarf to detect life signs and know the direction of incoming attacks, even when out of sight.
The user imbues a contained liquid or object with the Ripple. The Ripple will pass through the holder's body and the environment, enabling the holder to sense their surroundings and detect others even through walls. Lisa Lisa uses it with her scarf, sensing a zombie's sneak attack.
Lisa Lisa charges Ripple into her fist and hits the ground. The Ripple travels across the floor, creating a circle filled with a complicated pattern. It instantly disintegrates Alejandro Torres into ashes.
Lisa Lisa holds the Red Stone of Aja in one hand and presses it against the opponent before charging it with the Ripple. Her Ripple resembles the color of sunset and creates a red firework, burning the enemy.
Lisa Lisa creates a massive electrified dome by imbuing the Ripple on leaves, flowers, and dyed sawdust from destroyed rugs. The materials pile on top of each other in layers to cover an entire plaza from El Señor de las Moscas's swarm of flies.
Stand
The House of Earth is a Stand that Lisa Lisa awakens when she is around 97 years old after piercing herself with a replica of the Arrow created by Yawar Fiesta. Her ability is a culmination of the Ripple technique, generating solar wind with the force of a hurricane. As the wind consists of particles like cinnabar, lead, titanium, and mercury which are all superconductors, Lisa Lisa can infuse the wind with her Ripple Overdrive.[34]
Chapters / Episodes
Manga Appearances- Chapter 43: Fire and Ice, Jonathan and Dio, Part 5
- Chapter 44: Fire and Ice, Jonathan and Dio, Part 6
- Chapter 45: Joseph Joestar of New York, Part 1 (Mentioned only)
- Chapter 47: Joseph Joestar of New York, Part 3 (Mentioned only)
- Chapter 71: Ripple Teacher Lisa Lisa, Part 1
- Chapter 72: Ripple Teacher Lisa Lisa, Part 2
- Chapter 73: Ripple Teacher Lisa Lisa, Part 3
- Chapter 74: Ripple Teacher Lisa Lisa, Part 4
- Chapter 75: Ripple Teacher Lisa Lisa, Part 5
- Chapter 76: Ripple Teacher Lisa Lisa, Part 6
- Chapter 77: Go! Ripple Master (Mentioned only)
- Chapter 78: Flame Mode Esidisi, Part 1
- Chapter 79: Flame Mode Esidisi, Part 2 (Cover only)
- Chapter 80: Flame Mode Esidisi, Part 3 (Mentioned only)
- Chapter 81: The Remains Lurk, Part 1
- Chapter 82: The Remains Lurk, Part 2
- Chapter 83: Stroheim's Unit Strikes Back, Part 1
- Chapter 84: Stroheim's Unit Strikes Back, Part 2
- Chapter 85: Stroheim's Unit Strikes Back, Part 3
- Chapter 86: Light Mode Kars, Part 1
- Chapter 87: Light Mode Kars, Part 2
- Chapter 88: Caesar: A Lonely Youth, Part 1
- Chapter 89: Caesar: A Lonely Youth, Part 2
- Chapter 90: Caesar: A Lonely Youth, Part 3
- Chapter 91: Caesar: A Lonely Youth, Part 4
- Chapter 92: Caesar: A Lonely Youth, Part 5
- Chapter 93: Caesar: A Lonely Youth, Part 6
- Chapter 94: Climb Out of the Fortified Hotel
- Chapter 95: The Wind, the Chariot, and Wamuu, Part 1
- Chapter 96: The Wind, the Chariot, and Wamuu, Part 2
- Chapter 97: The Wind, the Chariot, and Wamuu, Part 3
- Chapter 98: The Wind, the Chariot, and Wamuu, Part 4
- Chapter 99: The Wind, the Chariot, and Wamuu, Part 5
- Chapter 100: The Wind, the Chariot, and Wamuu, Part 6
- Chapter 101: The Wind, the Chariot, and Wamuu, Part 7
- Chapter 102: The Wind, the Chariot, and Wamuu, Part 8
- Chapter 103: The Wind, the Chariot, and Wamuu, Part 9
- Chapter 104: The Warrior Returns to the Wind
- Chapter 105: The Bond That Binds Lisa Lisa and JoJo, Part 1
- Chapter 106: The Bond That Binds Lisa Lisa and JoJo, Part 2
- Chapter 107: JoJo: The Final Ripple, Part 1
- Chapter 108: JoJo: The Final Ripple, Part 2
- Chapter 109: Kars the Superbeing is Born, Part 1
- Chapter 110: Kars the Superbeing is Born, Part 2
- Chapter 111: Joseph's Final Gamble
- Chapter 112: The Man Who Became a God (Mentioned only)
- Chapter 113: The Man Who Crossed the Atlantic
- Chapter 117: The Man with the Star Birthmark (Mentioned only)
Anime Appearances- JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Episode 9: The Final Ripple!
- JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Episode 10: JoJo of New York (Mentioned only)
- JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Episode 16: Ripple Teacher Lisa Lisa
- JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Episode 17: Laying a Deeper Trap!
- JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Episode 18: Stroheim's Unit Strikes Back
- JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Episode 19: Race Toward the Cliff of Death
- JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Episode 20: Caesar: A Lonely Youth
- JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Episode 21: The Hundred vs. Two Strategy
- JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Episode 22: A True Warrior
- JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Episode 23: The Warrior Returns to the Wind
- JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Episode 24: The Bond That Binds JoJo
- JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Episode 25: The Birth of a Superbeing!!
- JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Episode 26: The Man Who Became a God
- Stardust Crusaders Episode 1: A Man Possessed by an Evil Spirit (Mentioned only)
Novel Appearances- JORGE JOESTAR Chapter 1: Tsukumojuku
- JORGE JOESTAR Chapter 3: Wounds
- JORGE JOESTAR Chapter 5: Box
- JORGE JOESTAR Chapter 7: Airplanes
- JORGE JOESTAR Chapter 9: Cliff
- JORGE JOESTAR Chapter 11: Gremlin
- JORGE JOESTAR Chapter 13: Enemy
- JORGE JOESTAR Chapter 14: Desolation Row (Mentioned only)
- JORGE JOESTAR Chapter 15: Beyond (Mentioned only)
- JORGE JOESTAR Chapter 16: Beyond II
- El Aleph Chapter 1: I - Guatemala Arc
- El Aleph Chapter 2: II - Guatemala Arc
- El Aleph Chapter 3: III - Guatemala Arc
- El Aleph Chapter 5: V - Peru Arc
- El Aleph Chapter 7: VII - Peru Arc (Mentioned only)
- El Aleph Chapter 8: VIII - Peru Arc (Mentioned only)
- El Aleph Chapter 9: IX - Peru Arc (Mentioned only)
- El Aleph Chapter 10: X - Peru Arc
- El Aleph Chapter 11: XI - Peru Arc
- El Aleph Chapter 14: XIV - Final Arc
- El Aleph Chapter 15: XV - Final Arc
- El Aleph Chapter 17: XVII - Final Arc
- El Aleph Chapter 19: XIX - Final Arc
- El Aleph Final Chapter: Epilogo
Live Action AppearancesQuotes
Quotes- “Hey, big guy on the left, I don't like your face. I'm gonna have to hurt you.”—Lisa Lisa to Joseph Joestar, Chapter 71: Ripple Teacher Lisa Lisa, Part 1
- “I tested you and it's clear that you have talent. I'm impressed that you can move that well on water without training. However! If you're going to reach your full potential in a month, you'd better be ready to die for it!”—Lisa Lisa to Joseph Joestar, Chapter 72: Ripple Teacher Lisa Lisa, Part 2
- “I'm not teaching you the Ripple to save your life. I'm teaching you to become warriors that can defeat them... that's all.”—Lisa Lisa to her students, Chapter 72: Ripple Teacher Lisa Lisa, Part 2
- “I've already prepared an extensive training regimen for you. Prepare to be amazed to death!”—Lisa Lisa to her students, Chapter 75: Ripple Teacher Lisa Lisa, Part 5
- “A pickpocket? Why do I only seem to attract strange men?”—Lisa Lisa to a Nazi spy, Chapter 75: Ripple Teacher Lisa Lisa, Part 5
- “I must do my duty to protect it at all costs.”—Lisa Lisa, Chapter 76: Ripple Teacher Lisa Lisa, Part 6
- “We have to play dirty in order to keep them from getting the Red Stone! We may have to break the law! And one of us may have to sacrifice ourselves for the cause...”—Lisa Lisa, Chapter 83: Stroheim's Unit Strikes Back, Part 1
- “I'm not in the best of moods. I don't want to hear it... Nor do I want to look at a germ like you. But if you'd like to hug me tight, by all means, give it a try. If you're prepared to die regretting it.”—Lisa Lisa to Wired Beck, Chapter 94: Climb Out of the Fortified Hotel
- “I'm not dumb enough to have brought the stone with me here. If neither JoJo nor I make it back to a certain place at a certain time... The stone is set to blow up on a timer!”—Lisa Lisa bluffing to Kars, Chapter 95: The Wind, the Chariot, and Wamuu, Part 1
- “How unfortunate that the fear of old age sent him into madness. JoJo... It's hard to describe how I feel about you defeating him, but I believe it was an inevitable fate.”—Lisa Lisa about Straizo, Chapter 97: The Wind, the Chariot, and Wamuu, Part 3
- “Didn't I make myself clear? The agreement was for me to duel Kars, one-on-one! But if you're going to break it, then I'll just smash the stone!”—Lisa Lisa, Chapter 105: The Bond That Binds Lisa Lisa and JoJo, Part 1
- “No need! I haven't lived such a fragile life that I'd need pity from a kid who isn't even twenty yet! (無用！ たかが２０歳前の小僧からいたわられるほどやわな人生は送っていない！)”—Lisa Lisa, Chapter 105: The Bond That Binds Lisa Lisa and JoJo, Part 1
Quotes- “Mama Erina! Thank you! For everything! I love you too! I love you! Remember me forever! Don't forget about me!”
- “Since I was a tiny baby, I've been able to breathe in a special way – just like my adoptive father, and, George... like your father.”—Lisa Lisa, JORGE JOESTAR Chapter 1: Tsukumojuku
- “My breathing gives me power, George. I promise I'll protect you.”—Lisa Lisa, JORGE JOESTAR Chapter 1: Tsukumojuku
- “I am George Joestar's guardian! I fight to protect his beautiful bloodline!”—Lisa Lisa, JORGE JOESTAR Chapter 1: Tsukumojuku
- “Don't you call me Lisa Lisa. My name is Elizabeth Straizo, Señorita.”
- “The Ripple Warriors are... until I joined Straizo properly, I assumed we were hunting vampires and zombies, but that's not true at all. We're actually protecting mankind, and the secrets of mankind.”—Lisa Lisa, JORGE JOESTAR Chapter 7: Airplanes
- “I never imagined searching this temple for the Red Stone of Aja would be filled with wacky hijinks!”—Lisa Lisa, JORGE JOESTAR Chapter 7: Airplanes
- “I won't die. Don't you dare die, either. We'll win here, go home, and get married.”
- “I genuinely wanted to go running straight to you, George. I've been waiting and waiting and waaaaiting for the war to end! Heh heh, sorry, I sound like a little girl, don't I? I'm almost thirty! I act more grown up with everyone else, but when I'm with you, George, I feel like we're kids again, and that shows in how I act.”
Quotes- “Would you like some help? If you won't shut your mouth, I can do it for you.”
- “I am Elizabeth Joestar. You can call me whatever you like.”
- “Is it hush money that you want, or would you rather learn the secret to my magic tricks so you can show off to your orphan friends?”
- “Did you know that fluorescent lights are actually flickering at an imperceptible rate? That's because it flickers about a hundred times a second. It can't be seen with the naked eye. It's in a constant cycle of light, dark, light, dark. When I was young, I would stare up at lights like these just like I am now, trying to spot the tiny interval of darkness. I wanted to see that darkness that peeks out from between the flashes a hundred times in a second, and yet no human eye could ever observe it.”—Lisa Lisa, El Aleph Chapter 3: III - Guatemala Arc
- “You and I live beneath these rebellious rays of light. But there are also some who live beneath those flickers of darkness. There is another world hidden in the gaps of our own, one that our reasoning does not apply to. There, all living beings see their own shadows deepened by that of death itself. Our worlds exist so close together, but the border can never be crossed. Our duty is to capture that flicker of darkness.”
- “Working in the Speedwagon Foundation is not like working with Interpol or in espionage. It is not a secret society like the Freemasons or a social club that pursues its own interests. Although we wear black suits, there are no symbols, coat of arms, or decorations on our ties or cufflinks. The investigators themselves are essentially obscured like a cipher, hiding from all of society. Are you ready to become that?”—Lisa Lisa, El Aleph Chapter 3: III - Guatemala Arc
- “I let my precious pupil, Loggins's descendant, be exposed to danger the moment I took my eyes off of her? Death is always but a moment away for Ripple users. That has always been a fact of life, but that doesn't mean we ought to go seeking it out. I'm over eighty years old now – I never want to see another person younger than me throw their life away.”
- “I'm younger than the Louvre, but older than the Museum of Modern Art. Listening to the story of an old lady like me will take quite a while.”—Lisa Lisa, El Aleph Chapter 11: XI - Peru Arc
- “I believe the generation succeeding us will inherit our struggles to make the world a better place, and that is exactly why we must properly let control over the era go to them. I've decided to whip these old bones into action for as long as my power is needed, and to leave behind a legacy once it is not.”—Lisa Lisa, El Aleph Chapter 11: XI - Peru Arc
- “My name, what should I answer? My name is—Every time I shared my fate with someone, my family name changed. First, it was Straizo. Then, Joestar. And after that, Greenberg.”—Lisa Lisa, El Aleph Chapter 14: XIV - Final Arc
- “I've aged as well. Now, I doubt I can still use Ripple as I used to. Skinny as a wire, no part of my body is not ailing. My skin, with veins the color of balsamic vinegar, has become completely soft, and when I pinch the back of my hand tightly, the wrinkled skin takes a while to return to its original form. I've developed a habit of sleeping without locking the bedroom door, fearing I might stop breathing while asleep. Many cherished times and dear faces have faded into the background. The people of the Foundation still call me Elizabeth Joestar due to our longstanding connection, but it feels a bit uncomfortable since I've had my second husband’s last name for longer. So, if called by name, I prefer Lisa Lisa. For most of my nearly hundred-year journey, I have been Lisa Lisa.”—Lisa Lisa, El Aleph Chapter 14: XIV - Final Arc
- “We won't just watch. I've said it, haven't I, Hernández? Even at this age, there are things I can still do.”—Lisa Lisa, El Aleph Chapter 14: XIV - Final Arc
- “What you need is to take control of your own power. Don't set your limits. I know young people who have overcome difficulties and grown by conquering their abilities. Conquering your own ability is the only way to reach true power.”
- “I'm a person who shouldn't need new experiences. I've lived enough, ready to hand over adventures to those arriving anew. There is far more waiting for me on the other side than those I'm involved with here.”—Lisa Lisa, El Aleph Chapter 14: XIV - Final Arc
- “That's enough, Hernández. That's enough. It's not about melancholic resolve or heroic determination. I've been pushing risks onto the young, retreating from the front lines, leading them to fatal outcomes. You know the names, don't you? Loggins, Messina, Octavio, Joaquín, and Caesar A. Zeppeli... the list is endless. So, I've stopped retreating. I won't sacrifice anyone anymore. Even if it means balancing my life and death on a scale, I won’t lament over a life that's about to end at any moment.”—Lisa Lisa, El Aleph Chapter 14: XIV - Final Arc
- “It's like you’re all carrying a precious taxidermy mount to a museum. But thinking this might be my last journey is unexpectedly motivating for me. Even my limbs, which are like an old pair of stockings shrinking daily, still work surprisingly well when I decide to use them.”—Lisa Lisa, El Aleph Chapter 15: XV - Final Arc
- “I suppose living in such a dark forest would make one's character become spiteful, but I wonder if there’s someone who can introduce us. Do you want a proper self-introduction?”
- “I'm the same as you guys... I was also an huérfano. I lost my real parents when I was a baby. There were nights when I couldn't bear the loneliness and cried my eyes out. But on the other hand, the darkness of the night also awakened various dreams. The night is not just for closing your eyes. It can also be a window to free imagination.”
- “When I said I am the same as you, I meant not only in origin but also as a wielder of la Maravilla. Of course, that's where the similarities end. I haven't led a fragile life torn apart and consumed by the darkness of the mind like you have.”
- “Perhaps this is the last grand stage of the Ripple technique that we've inherited.”
- “It seems there's nothing I can do. Even when we think the unparalleled evil has been destroyed, it regenerates with the course of the world. An unknown, terrifying power overflows endlessly, and people from the past have no means to support a world crumbling like a mound of sand. There's nothing left for me to do.”
Creation and Development
For the second part of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, Hirohiko Araki decided to have a female character play the part of the Ripple master. He wondered what it would be like for a female to follow up the Ripple master Will Anthonio Zeppeli from Phantom Blood. There also weren't "too many female characters" in the series at the time. Araki also thinks Lisa Lisa works well when paired with Joseph and Caesar.[35]
Araki mentions that the first obstacle in designing Lisa Lisa was her name, saying, "Back then, if you picked a non-Japanese name for your character, it was a challenge to get the audience to remember it." Thus, "Lisa Lisa" was chosen. Araki believes that a repetitious name like "JoJo" would help, and that it phonetically resembles Japanese to some extent.[35]
At the time of Battle Tendency's serialization, the females in other shonen manga were depicted as "a man's ideal girl": cute types who would giggle during conversations. Because of this, Araki felt that a warrior-type female like Lisa Lisa felt fresh. Lisa Lisa's personality was inspired by an incredibly smart girl in Araki's neighborhood who tutored him when he was in elementary school, since he felt intimidated by her.[35]
Finally, Araki states that in addition to functioning as a master people weren't used to seeing a woman fight. In battles, the one who is physically stronger would win, but Araki realized that if supernatural abilities were involved a woman can fight evenly with a strong male. "In other words," Araki says, "if the battle is between those with supernatural powers, physical appearance has nothing to do with strength."[35]
Trivia
- In a piece from the Hirohiko Araki JoJo Exhibition 2012, Lisa Lisa is erroneously depicted with a Star Birthmark, despite her not being a Joestar by blood.
- Rose from the Street Fighter series is based off of Lisa Lisa; Rose's outfit is almost identical to Lisa Lisa's and both share a similar fighting style that consists of channeling energy into their scarfs (Soul Power in the case of Rose and Ripple in the case of Lisa Lisa).[36] Additionally, both characters like to take baths and Rose's stage in Street Fighter Alpha 2 is Venice, which is the same city where Joseph Joestar meets Lisa Lisa in the story.
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 Chapter 97: The Wind, the Chariot, and Wamuu, Part 3
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 JoJo 6251
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Chapter 113: The Man Who Crossed the Atlantic
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 El Aleph Final Chapter: Epilogo
- ↑ Chapter 44: Fire and Ice, Jonathan and Dio, Part 6
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 El Aleph Chapter 1: I - Guatemala Arc
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 El Aleph Chapter 3: III - Guatemala Arc
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 El Aleph Chapter 14: XIV - Final Arc
- ↑ El Aleph Chapter 15: XV - Final Arc
- ↑ El Aleph Chapter 17: XVII - Final Arc
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Chapter 76: Ripple Teacher Lisa Lisa, Part 6
- ↑ Chapter 105: The Bond That Binds Lisa Lisa and JoJo, Part 1
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Chapter 95: The Wind, the Chariot, and Wamuu, Part 1
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Chapter 73: Ripple Teacher Lisa Lisa, Part 3
- ↑ Chapter 73: Ripple Teacher Lisa Lisa, Part 3 P.8.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Chapter 72: Ripple Teacher Lisa Lisa, Part 2
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 Chapter 93: Caesar: A Lonely Youth, Part 6
- ↑ Chapter 74: Ripple Teacher Lisa Lisa, Part 4 P.18.
- ↑ Chapter 75: Ripple Teacher Lisa Lisa, Part 5
- ↑ Chapter 81: The Remains Lurk, Part 1 P.8.
- ↑ Chapter 97: The Wind, the Chariot, and Wamuu, Part 3 P.4.
- ↑ Chapter 108: JoJo: The Final Ripple, Part 2
- ↑ Chapter 93: Caesar: A Lonely Youth, Part 6 P.10.
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3 JORGE JOESTAR Chapter 1: Tsukumojuku
- ↑ JORGE JOESTAR Chapter 3: Wounds
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 26.3 JORGE JOESTAR Chapter 7: Airplanes
- ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 JORGE JOESTAR Chapter 13: Enemy
- ↑ JORGE JOESTAR Chapter 5: Box
- ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 29.3 29.4 29.5 El Aleph Chapter 5: V - Peru Arc
- ↑ 30.0 30.1 30.2 El Aleph Chapter 2: II - Guatemala Arc
- ↑ 31.0 31.1 31.2 El Aleph Chapter 11: XI - Peru Arc
- ↑ El Aleph Chapter 10: X - Peru Arc
- ↑ Chapter 94: Climb Out of the Fortified Hotel P.18-20.
- ↑ El Aleph Chapter 19: XIX - Final Arc
- ↑ 35.0 35.1 35.2 35.3 JoJonium Volume 5 (Lisa Lisa) - Special Interview
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epRNJVK5yNw#t=1m15s